Hibiscus plant named ‘Lillikoi Yellow’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Lillikoi Yellow’, characterized by its compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, uniformly rounded and dense plant habit that is appropriate for container production; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; large bright yellow-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers; and good postproduction and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Lillikoi Yellow’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Lillikoi Yellow’.

The new Hibiscus is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Hibiscus cultivars with a dense, uniform and compact plant habit appropriate for container production, early and uniform flowering, numerous flowers per lateral branch, desirable flower color and good garden performance.

The new Hibiscus originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. in February, 2004, of a proprietary selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2222, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘YOHIB 2362’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,623, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. on Aug. 23, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. since February, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Lillikoi Yellow’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Lillikoi Yellow’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, uniformly         rounded and dense plant habit that is appropriate for container         production.     -   2. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.     -   4. Large bright yellow-colored flowers with dark red-colored         centers.     -   5. Good postproduction and garden performance.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plant of the new Hibiscus are more upright and not as         outwardly spreading and open as plants of the female parent         selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are stronger than plants of the         female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘YOHIB 2362’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of ‘YOHIB 2362’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more compact and more rounded         than plants of ‘YOHIB 2362’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have smaller flowers than plants         of ‘YOHIB 2362’.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Chiffon Wind’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,606. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of ‘Chiffon Wind’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus were more vigorous than plants of         ‘Chiffon Wind’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Chiffon Wind’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Chiffon Wind’ had lighter         yellow-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Lillikoi Yellow’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Lillikoi Yellow’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Alva, Fla. in 15-cm containers in polycarbonate-covered greenhouses during the summer under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 35° C. to about 38° C. and night temperatures ranged from about 20° C. to about 21° C. Plants had been growing for 15 weeks when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Lillikoi Yellow’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2222, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, ‘YOHIB 2362’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,623. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at temperatures of 24°             C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks at temperatures of             24° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen, upright,             somewhat outwardly spreading, compact, uniformly rounded and             dense. Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about three to             four lateral branches develop.         -   Plant height.—About 32 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 26 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 23 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Texture.—Immature, smooth; mature, woody and rough.         -   Color, immature.—Close to 137A.         -   Color, mature.—Close to 199B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.         -   Length.—About 8.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 8.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery and tough.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Somewhat glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             N137A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than             139A; venation, close to 139A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 147B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 5.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf             axils. Uniform and freely flowering habit with usually about             five to eight flower buds and/or open flowers per plant at             one time. Flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Flower appearance.—Rounded, bright yellow-colored flowers             with dark red-colored centers. Flowers are open for about             two days. Flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Usually spring and summer or             during periods of warm weather; plants flower year-round in             the greenhouse.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7.3 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 7.6 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Resistance to abscission during shipping: Plants             of the new Hibiscus have been observed to resist flower bud             drop when stored in a closed box for five days at 13° C.             Rate of opening: About five days depending on temperatures.             Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 2.1 cm. Shape: Oval to             oblong. Color: Close to 3C.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals that             are fused at base; petals imbricate. Length: About 6.5 cm.             Width: About 7.1 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded; slightly             sinnuate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly sinuate.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; veins prominent on the             lower surface. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to             10A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 10B. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 12A; towards the center,             close to 53A to 53B. Color does not fade with development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 12B; towards the             center, close to 8D. Color does not fade with development.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular             star-shaped calyx. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About             1.1 cm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower             surface: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Color, lower surface: Close to 146A.         -   Bracts.—Appearance: About five to seven fused at base.             Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.             Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to N137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Angle: About 15° from the lateral branch axis. Strength:             Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             about 92. Filament length: About 5 mm. Filament color: Close             to 27C. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther color: Close to 19B. Amount of pollen: Moderate.             Pollen color: Close to 163A. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About             7.5 cm. Style length: About 4.5 cm. Style texture: Smooth,             waxy. Style color: Close to 8D. Stigma appearance:             Five-parted, rounded. Stigma color: Close to 34B. Ovary             color: Close to 8C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures from about 0° C. to about 38° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus grown under     Florida production conditions have not been shown to be susceptible     to pathogens common to Hibiscus such as Pseudomonas, Pythium and     Phytophthora. Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed to     be tolerant to pests and other pathogens. 

1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Lillikoi Yellow’ as illustrated and described. 